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Judges Chapter
Eighteen
Judges 18
Outlines
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 18
This
chapter relates how the Danites
being overcrowed in their inheritance
sent
out spies to search the land
and see if they could find any proper place to
add unto it
and enlarge it
Judges 18:1 who
returned and reported Laish as such
and encouraged the Danites to go and
possess it; for which purpose they sent six hundred men up to it
Judges 18:7 and as
they went
called at the house of Micah
and took away his priests and his
gods
Judges 18:13 and
having taken Laish
set up Micah's graven image there
Judges 18:28.
Judges 18:1 In
those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of
the Danites was seeking an inheritance for itself to dwell in; for until that
day their inheritance among the tribes of Israel had not fallen to them.
YLT
1In those days there is no
king in Israel
and in those days the tribe of the Danite is seeking for itself
an inheritance to inhabit
for [that] hath not fallen to it unto that day in
the midst of the tribes of Israel by inheritance.
In those days there was no king in Israel
.... No
supreme magistrate
no judge
for it was before the time of the judges
after
the death of Joshua and before Othniel the first judge; this is observed
before
Judges 17:6 and
here repeated to account for the evil things done by the Danites
their
consulting Micah's oracle
taking away his priest and his gods
and setting up
his graven image in Dan
by which means idolatry was spread in Israel
and
brought on their servitude to Chushanrishathaim
from which Othniel the first
judge was their deliverer:
and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an
inheritance to dwell in; that is
a family of them
as in the next verse
not the whole
tribe; for as a family is sometimes put for a tribe
Joshua 7:17 so a
tribe for a family
Judges 20:12.
for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen to
them among the tribes of Israel: we rightly supply the words "all
their"; for otherwise an inheritance had fallen to them by lot
as the
other tribes. Joshua 19:40
but
that was not only too little for them
Joshua 19:47 but
all that was allotted to them did not come into their possession
but a part remained
unsubdued; and some they had possession of they could not keep
either through
the superior strength of the Amorites
or their own sloth and cowardice
or for
want of the help of their brethren; see Judges 1:34.
Judges 18:2 2 So the children of Dan
sent five men of their family from their territory
men of valor from Zorah and
Eshtaol
to spy out the land and search it. They said to them
“Go
search the
land.” So they went to the mountains of Ephraim
to the house of Micah
and
lodged there.
YLT
2And the sons of Dan send
out of their family
five men of them
men
sons of valour
from Zorah
and
from Eshtaol
to traverse the land
and to search it
and they say unto them
`Go
search the land;' and they come into the hill-country of Ephraim
unto the
house of Micah
and lodge there.
And the children of Dan sent of their family five men
.... According
to Abarbinel one out of a family
as Moses sent one out of a tribe to spy the
land; and so there must be five families concerned in this affair:
from their coasts
men of valour from Zorah
and from Eshtaol
to
spy out the land
and to search it; these men were sent from
the borders of the tribe
the extreme parts of it
as the word may signify
where perhaps they were the most pressed and overcrowded: Zorah and Eshtaol are
particularly mentioned
and were the first cities in their lot
and were the
coast of their inheritance; see Gill on Joshua 19:41 some
take the phrase rendered "from their coasts" to signify persons of
extreme meanness
men of the lowest class among them; but the above mentioned
writers interpret it to a quite contrary sense
by "Katzinim"
princes
such as Moses sent to spy the land; and this better agrees with the
next clause
"men of valour": and the word used signifies not only
magnanimity and fortitude of mind
but wealth and riches; and these were sent
not to spy the land of Canaan
but such places as fell to this tribe
but were
possessed by the Canaanites; and their errand was to observe in what condition
they were
and whether fit for their purpose
and easy to obtain
and how they
might get the possession of any of them:
and they said unto them
search the land; and see if
some convenient place cannot be found out to enlarge their inheritance
and
give them more room and liberty for their families
now pent up
and a
pasturage for their flocks and herds:
who when they came to Mount Ephraim; which lay upon the
borders of them:
to the house of Micah
they lodged there; that is
when
they were come near to the house of Micah
as Kimchi and Ben Melech interpret
it
they took up their lodging in the neighbourhood of it
perhaps at a public
house or inn; for the sense is not
that they lodged in Micah's house
for
after this we read of their turning into it
as in the next verse. According to
BuntingF18Travels of the Patriarchs
&c. p. 112.
this place
was twenty four miles from Zorah and Eshtaol
from whence these men came.
Judges 18:3 3 While they were at
the house of Micah
they recognized the voice of the young Levite. They turned
aside and said to him
“Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place?
What do you have here?”
YLT
3They [are] with the
household of Micah
and they have discerned the voice of the young man
the
Levite
and turn aside there
and say to him
`Who hath brought thee hither?
and what art thou doing in this [place?] and what to thee here?'
When they were by the house of Micah
.... At their
inn
which might be next to it
or as they were passing by it:
they knew the voice of the young man the Levite; who had been
in their country
and they had been in his company and conversation
and they
knew the tone of his voice when they heard it; a particular brogue he might
have. Abarbinel conjectures
that he was singing to Micah's idol
or
multiplying his prayers before him:
and they turned in thither; into Micah's house
and
into the apartment where the young man was:
and said unto him
who brought thee hither? they knew he
was of Bethlehemjudah; they inquire therefore how he came there
who sent for
him
and by what means he was brought to that place:
and what makest thou in this place? they knew he was a
Levite
and that such an one had no business to minister but at the tabernacle
and therefore they inquire what was his employment here: and what hast thou
here? to support himself with
what he had for his maintenance
or how he
lived.
Judges 18:4 4 He said to them
“Thus and
so Micah did for me. He has hired me
and I have become his priest.”
YLT
4And he saith unto them
`Thus and thus hath Micah done to me; and he hireth me
and I am to him for a
priest.'
And he said unto them
thus and thus dealeth Micah with me
.... Told them
the whole story
how he came to the door of Micah's house
how he inquired of
him who he was
and from whence he came
and whither he was going
and then
invited him into his house to stay with him:
and hath hired me; by the year
for ten shekels of silver
a
suit of clothes
and meat and drink
and by this means he got a livelihood
and
was supported:
and I am his priest; and that was his
business to offer sacrifice for his family
and to consult his oracle for him
and for whomsoever should apply.
Judges 18:5 5 So they said to him
“Please inquire of God
that we may know whether the journey on which we go
will be prosperous.”
YLT
5And they say to him
`Ask
we pray thee
at God
and we know whether our way is prosperous on which we are
going.'
And they said unto him
ask counsel
we pray thee
of God
.... They did
not reprove him for assuming the priestly office
when they knew he was a
Levite
such was the corruption of those times
and the great depravity and
declensions they were fallen into; nor even for the idolatry he was guilty of
but encourage him in it
and thought they had got a fine opportunity
which
they readily laid hold on
to have counsel asked for them of God
about the
success of the errand they were sent about; to this they were led at sight of
the ephod
which was like that in the tabernacle
and of the teraphim
images
which
according to a notion that prevailed
when consulted
foretold future
things; whether by God they meant the true God
who they thought would give an
answer by these
or Micah's gods
is not certain; according to the Targum of
Jonathan
they meant the true God
which paraphrases it
"ask of the Word
of the Lord:"
that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous
or no; whether they should find out a proper place to dwell in
and be
able to get possession of it.
Judges 18:6 6 And the priest said to
them
“Go in peace. The presence of the Lord be with you on
your way.”
YLT
6And the priest saith to
them
`Go in peace; over-against Jehovah [is] your way in which ye go.'
And the priest said to them
go in peace
.... After he
had consulted the oracle
or had asked counsel by the ephod and teraphim;
either of his own head
or by a voice he had heard
which Satan might be
permitted of God to deliver
he very roundly told them that they might proceed
on in their journey with their minds quite easy
and with full assurance of
success:
before the Lord is your way wherein ye go; it is seen
observed
and taken notice of by him
and he approves of it; it is according to
his will
and under his direction and protection
and success from him may be
depended upon; though some observe that this answer is delivered in ambiguous
terms
as generally the oracles of demons were
and might be taken in a good or
bad sense
as the event should be; as that their way was before the Lord
and
was seen by him either with pleasure or displeasure
with approbation or
disapprobation
for their good
or for their harm: so that let it fall out as
it might
the credit of the oracle was saved.
Judges 18:7 7 So the five men departed
and went to Laish. They saw the people who were there
how they dwelt
safely
in the manner of the Sidonians
quiet and secure. There were no
rulers in the land who might put them to shame for anything. They were
far from the Sidonians
and they had no ties with anyone.[a]
YLT
7And the five men go
and
come in to Laish
and see the people which [is] in its midst
dwelling
confidently
according to the custom of Zidonians
quiet and confident; and
there is none putting to shame in the land in [any] thing
possessing
restraint
and they [are] far off from the Zidonians
and have no word with
[any] man.
And the five men departed
.... From Mount Ephraim
and Micah's house there:
and came to Laish; which
according to BuntingF19Ut
supra. (Travels of the Patriarchs
&c. p. 112.)
was one hundred and four
miles from Mount Ephraim
and so many he makes it to be from Jerusalem; it lay
at the furthest northern border of the land of Canaan
at the foot of Mount
Lebanon
near the fountain of Jordan; it was four miles from Paneas
as Jerom
saysF20De loc. Heb. fol. 90. H.
as you go to Tyre; it is the
Caesarea Philippi of the New Testament
and the same that is called Leshem; see
Gill on Joshua 19:47
and saw the people that were therein; went into the
city
and made their observations on the inhabitants of it
their number
strength
and manner of living:
how they dwelt careless
after the manner of the Zidonians
quiet and
secure; the inhabitants of Zidon
whose customs they might imitate
whose laws they might use
and might be under their government
since they are
said to have no magistrate within themselves; and their carelessness and
confidence might arise from their strong fortresses; or rather because they
thought their city
and the land adjacent to it
did not belong to the land of
Israel
and did not know that the Israelites made any pretensions to it
and
therefore were quite easy
and in no fear of them; had no watchmen to guard
their city
and did not take care to furnish themselves with weapons of war for
their defence
even as the Zidonians; who
besides their city being a strong
and fortified one
were in no fear of the Israelites
because their city was not
in the land of Canaan
only the border of it reached to it:
and there was no magistrate in the land that might put them to
shame in anything; to restrain them from vice
and punish them for it
or even to
reprove and correct them
and so put them to shame; or put any mark of infamy
and disgrace upon them in a public manner
that might shame them; hence they
lived in a disorderly and dissolute manner
whereby they became the more easy
prey to others: or the sense is
there was no king
nor an heir of the kingdom
as Kimchi interprets it
so that there were none to contest his right to the
government of the place
or to accuse another
and put him to shame for taking
it away from him. Jarchi takes the sense to be
that none needed to turn back
his neighbour empty
when he asked anything of him for his relief
since there
was no want of anything in the land
as after observed; but the first sense
seems best:
and they were far from the Zidonians; who were the
only people that could help them
being in friendship with them; and it may be
they were under their government
as before observed; they are saidF21Adrichom.
Theatrum Terrae Sanct. p. 105. to be about eleven miles from them; JosephusF23Antiqu.
l. 5. c. 3. sect. 1. says
a day's journey:
and had no business with any man; no trade or commerce
but lived independent of others
and within themselves
their land affording
them everything sufficient for them. Some understand it of their not being in
any league or alliance with any other people
and so had none to call in to
their assistance in case of any attack upon them.
Judges 18:8 8 Then the spies came
back to their brethren at Zorah and Eshtaol
and their brethren said to them
“What is your report?”
YLT
8And they come in unto their
brethren
at Zorah and Eshtaol
and their brethren say to them
`What -- ye?'
And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol
.... After
they had well viewed the city
and made their remarks on the inhabitants of it
the condition and circumstances in which they were
and took notice of the
goodness of the land about it
they returned to their brethren that sent them
particularly those that dwelt at the two places mentioned:
and their brethren said unto them
what say ye? what tidings
do you bring? what account of the place and country where you have been?
Judges 18:9 9 So they said
“Arise
let
us go up against them. For we have seen the land
and indeed it is very
good. Would you do nothing? Do not hesitate to go
and
enter to possess the land.
YLT
9And they say
`Rise
and we
go up against them
for we have seen the land
and lo
very good; and ye are
keeping silent! be not slothful to go -- to enter to possess the land.
And they said
arise
that me may go up against them
.... That is
prepare for war
and go up in an hostile manner against the present possessors
of the land
not doubting of being masters of it easily:
for we have seen the land
and
behold
it is very good. AdrichomiusF24Ut
supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 3. sect. 1.) says it was very good pasture land
and
fertile
abounding with fruits of all kinds; and the same is attested by
JosephusF25Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 3. sect. 1.) :
and are ye still? can ye sit still
and be easy
and not
bestir yourselves to go up and possess so good a country
of which an easy
conquest may be made? or
affirmatively
"ye are still or silent"F26א־תאם מחשים "vos autem
desidetis"
Tigurine version; "et vos quiescitis"
Munster. ; ye
make no answer to what we say
and seem careless and indifferent about the
matter; or by way of exhortation
"be silent"
either that the people
may remain in their quiet
easy
careless state
and lest
on hearing designs
against them
should prepare for their defence; or
as Abarbinel
lest any of
the other tribes of Israel should hear of it
and go take it before them:
be not slothful to go
and to enter to possess the land; they suggest
that there was scarce anything more to be done than to go and take possession
and that it would be altogether owing to their sloth and indolence if they did
not.
Judges 18:10 10 When you go
you will come
to a secure people and a large land. For God has given it into your hands
a
place where there is no lack of anything that is on the earth.”
YLT
10When ye go
ye come in unto
a people confident
and the land [is] large on both hands
for God hath given
it into your hand
a place where there is no lack of anything which [is] in the
land.'
When ye go
ye shall come to a people secure
and to a large land
.... For
though it was but one city
the territories of it were large
and the villages
belonging to it might be many; which
with the security of the people
might
easily be surprised and taken
not being upon their guard
are the arguments
used by the spies to encourage their countrymen to go up and take it
to which
they add others:
for God hath given it into your hands; which they
concluded from the state and condition they found the people in
thoughtless
and defenceless; or it may be on account of the oracle in Micah's house they
had consulted
and to which they gave credit; though some think their faith was
grounded upon this place being given by lot to the tribe of Dan
but this does
not appear:
a place where there is no want of anything that is in the earth; in the land
of Canaan; meaning
that there was nothing in the whole land but might be found
there
as wheat and barley
vines
fig trees
pomegranates
olives
and honey
with all other necessaries and conveniences of life.
Judges 18:11 11 And six hundred men of the
family of the Danites went from there
from Zorah and Eshtaol
armed with
weapons of war.
YLT
11And there journey thence
of the family of the Danite
from Zorah
and from Eshtaol
six hundred men
girded with weapons of war.
And there went from thence of the family of the Danites
.... Or
families
the singular being put for the plural; for it can hardly be thought
that such a number of men
as after mentioned
went out of one family:
out of Zorah
and out of Eshtaol; the two places the spies
were sent from
and now had returned unto: and upon their report
and at their
instigation
and by the encouragement they gave
there were
six hundred men appointed with weapons of war; that set out
armed from the above places
on the expedition to take Laish.
Judges 18:12 12 Then they went up and
encamped in Kirjath Jearim in Judah. (Therefore they call that place Mahaneh
Dan[b] to this
day. There it is
west of Kirjath Jearim.)
YLT
12And they go up and encamp
in Kirjath-Jearim
in Judah
therefore they have called that place
`Camp of
Dan
' till this day; lo
behind Kirjath-Jearim.
And they went up and pitched in Kirjathjearim in Judah
.... Of which
place see Joshua 15:9.
According to BuntingF1Ut supra. (Travels of the Patriarchs
&c.
p. 112.) it was sixteen miles from Zorah and Eshtaol
and this was their first
day's march:
wherefore they called the name of that place Mahanehdan unto this
day; which signifies the camp of Dan
or of the Danites; so it was
called in the times of Samson
Judges 13:25 and is
a proof that this expedition was before his time; and it was so called
it
seems
in the time of Samuel
the writer of this book:
behold
it is behind Kirjathjearim; to the west of it; for
though they are said to pitch in that place
the meaning is
that they pitched
near it
in the fields adjacent to it
which were the most proper and
convenient for a camp.
Judges 18:13 13 And they passed from there
to the mountains of Ephraim
and came to the house of Micah.
YLT
13And they pass over thence
[to] the hill-country of Ephraim
and come in unto the house of Micah.
And they passed thence unto Mount Ephraim
.... Steering
their coast still northward; this
according to BuntingF2Ibid.
(Travels of the Patriarchs
&c. p. 112.)
was eight miles from
Kirjathjearim
or Mahanehdan
in which Micah's house was
for as yet they were
not come to it
see Judges 18:15.
Judges 18:14 14 Then the five men who had
gone to spy out the country of Laish answered and said to their brethren
“Do
you know that there are in these houses an ephod
household idols
a carved
image
and a molded image? Now therefore
consider what you should do.”
YLT
14And the five men
those
going to traverse the land of Laish
answer and say unto their brethren
`Have
ye known that there is in these houses an ephod
and teraphim
and graven
image
and molten image? and now
know what ye do.'
Then they answered the five men that went to spy out the country
of Laish
.... That were sent by their brethren
Judges 18:5 and
as
it seems from hence
were sent particularly to Laish; they had some notion of
that place as proper for them
and therefore sent those men to reconnoitre it;
and now as they had passed this way before
when they came within sight of
Micah's house
it put them in mind of what they had seen there; wherefore one
in the name of the rest
and with their approbation
acquainted the company
with it:
and said unto their brethren
do ye know that there is in those
houses; in one of them
pointing to the houses of a village or town in
sight:
an ephod and teraphim
and a graven image
and a molten image? of which see Judges 17:4 and no
doubt but they acquainted them
only that they had seen them
and so were
certain but had consulted them
and that with success:
now therefore consider
say they:
what ye have to do; whether it may not be proper to consult
them again
or rather to take them with us
to consult as occasion may require
and as tokens and pledges of God being with us
and so may the rather hope that
everything will succeed to our wishes.
Judges 18:15 15 So they turned aside
there
and came to the house of the young Levite man—to the house of Micah—and
greeted him.
YLT
15And they turn aside
thither
and come in unto the house of the young man the Levite
the house of
Micah
and ask of him of welfare
--
And they turned thitherward
.... It seems as if the
house lay a little out of their way
and therefore they turned on one hand to
go unto it:
and came to the house of the young man the Levite
even unto the
house of Micah; for the young man's house was only an apartment of Micah's
and
lay very probably next to that in which the images
and oracle were; and they
made up to the young man's apartment
rather than to Micah's
because the above
things were under his care:
and saluted him; asked him of his welfare in a kind and
obliging manner
the rather to ingratiate themselves unto him.
Judges 18:16 16 The six hundred men armed
with their weapons of war
who were of the children of Dan
stood by the
entrance of the gate.
YLT
16(and the six hundred men
girded with their weapons of war
who [are] of the sons of Dan
are standing at
the opening of the gate)
--
And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war
.... Who were
armed men
and marched with their armour about them:
which were of the children of Dan; for no other were
concerned in this expedition: stood by the entering of the gate; not of Micah's
house
but of the city in which his house was; here they stood while the five
men went up to the house.
Judges 18:17 17 Then the five men who had
gone to spy out the land went up. Entering there
they took the carved image
the ephod
the household idols
and the molded image. The priest stood at the
entrance of the gate with the six hundred men who were armed with
weapons of war.
YLT 17yea
the five men
those
going to traverse the land
go up -- they have come in thither -- they have
taken the graven image
and the ephod
and the teraphim
and the molten image
-- and the priest is standing at the opening of the gate
and the six hundred
men who are girded with weapons of war –
And the five men that went out to spy the land went up and came
thither
.... They first came to Micah's house
and saluted the young man
and after that salutation told him there was such a number of their brethren at
the gate of the city
very probably
who would be glad to see him; and the
young man being desirous also of seeing them
and paying his respects to them
went with them thither
and after they had introduced him
left him discoursing
with them
and then returned to his apartment:
and took the graven image
and the ephod
and the teraphim
and
the molten image; and brought them away with them; and from hence it appears
plainly that there were two images
the one graven
and the other molten
since
they are so manifestly distinguished
and the ephod and teraphim are spoken of
between them:
and the priest stood in the entering of the gate
with the six
hundred men that were appointed with the weapons of war; who kept him
in talk
while the five men went and stole the above things.
Judges 18:18 18 When these went into
Micah’s house and took the carved image
the ephod
the household idols
and
the molded image
the priest said to them
“What are you doing?”
YLT
18yea
these have entered the
house of Micah
and take the graven image
the ephod
and the teraphim
and the
molten image; and the priest saith unto them
`What are ye doing?'
And these went into Micah's house
.... Into that part of it
where his gods were; not the six hundred men last mentioned
but the five men
who knew the house
and the chapel where the things were:
and fetched the carved image
the ephod
and the teraphim
and the
molten image; and brought them away in their hands to their brethren at the
gate
where the priest also was: and when he saw them:
then said the priest to them
what do ye? what do you
mean by this? is this your kindness to me
to take away what are my care and
charge
and on which my livelihood depends? and do you consider the wickedness
the sin of sacrilege you are guilty of
to take away these sacred things
these
objects of religious devotion?
Judges 18:19 19 And they said to him
“Be
quiet
put your hand over your mouth
and come with us; be a father and a
priest to us. Is it better for you to be a priest to the household of
one man
or that you be a priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?”
YLT
19and they say to him
`Keep
silent
lay thy hand on thy mouth
and go with us
and be to us for a father
and for a priest: is it better thy being a priest to the house of one man
or
thy being priest to a tribe and to a family in Israel?'
And they said unto him
hold thy peace
.... Be
silent
make no disturbance
be quiet and easy:
lay thy hand upon thy mouth; as a token of silence;
so the Egyptians used to paint Harpocrates
the god of silence
with his
fingers pressing his lips:
and go with us; for they wanted him as well as his gods
not knowing well how to make use of them without him:
and be to us a father and a priest; to direct them
instruct
them
perform acts of devotion for them
and ask counsel on their account; it
seems as if it was common in those days to call a priest a father
see Judges 17:10.
is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man
or
that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel? suggesting
that it must be much more honourable for him
and more to his advantage
to
officiate as a priest to a body of people
that might be called a tribe
or to
a family consisting of various houses
than in the house of a private person;
this they left him to consider and judge of.
Judges 18:20 20 So the priest’s heart was
glad; and he took the ephod
the household idols
and the carved image
and
took his place among the people.
YLT
20And the heart of the priest
is glad
and he taketh the ephod
and the teraphim
and the graven image
and
goeth into the midst of the people
And the priest's heart was glad
.... He rejoiced that
such an opportunity offered; it suited well with his covetous
ambitious
rambling
and unsettled disposition of mind:
and he took the ephod
and the teraphim
and the graven image; and no doubt
the molten image also
out of the hands of the five men into his own
agreeing
to go with them
and officiate for them:
and went in the midst of the people; the six hundred armed
men
either for the security of himself
if Micah should raise his servants
and his neighbours
to pursue after him
and fetch him back
with his images;
or
as others think
in imitation of the priests bearing the ark
who in
journeying marched in the middle of the camp.
Judges 18:21 21 Then they turned and
departed
and put the little ones
the livestock
and the goods in front of them.
YLT
21and they turn and go
and
put the infants
and the cattle
and the baggage
before them.
So they turned and departed
.... Turned from the gate
of the city where Micah dwelt
and marched forward to Laish:
and put the little ones
and the cattle
and the carriage
before
them; partly for safety from Micah
and his friends and neighbours
and partly that they might not be overdriven: their wives
who doubtless were
with them
though not mentioned
and their children
and also their flocks and
herds
they brought with them from Zorah and Eshtaol
as never intending to
return again thither
and being fully assured they should take Laish
and the
country about
and settle there; and also all their wealth and substance
as
the Targum renders the word for "carriage"
whatever they were
possessed of that was movable; their vessels
silver and gold
and other
movables
as Kimchi interprets it
whatever was weighty
valuable and glorious
as the word signifies
or that was of any importance and worth.
Judges 18:22 22 When they were a good way
from the house of Micah
the men who were in the houses near Micah’s
house gathered together and overtook the children of Dan.
YLT
22They have been far off from
the house of Micah -- and the men who [are] in the houses which [are] near the
house of Micah have been called together
and overtake the sons of Dan
And when they were a good way from the house of Micah
.... For it
might be some time before Micah knew that his gods were stolen
and his priest
was decoyed from him; and it must take up more time still to get his servants
and neighbours together to pursue after those that injured him:
the men that were in the houses near to Micah's house were
gathered together; no doubt at the request of Micah
who informed them of what had
happened to him: and they being not only his neighbours
but deeply involved in
the same superstition and idolatry
and closely addicted to it
and to whom it
might in some respects be advantageous at it brought people from various parts
to worship
or to consult the oracle: these being got together in a body
pursued
and overtook the children of Dan; who were obliged to move
but slowly
because of their wives
little ones
and heavy substance they
carried with them.
Judges 18:23 23 And they called out to the
children of Dan. So they turned around and said to Micah
“What ails you
that
you have gathered such a company?”
YLT
23and call unto the sons of
Dan
and they turn round their faces
and say to Micah
`What -- to thee that
thou hast been called together?'
And they cried unto the children of Dan
.... When they
had got pretty near them
and in their hearing
they called to them aloud
and
desired they would stop
having something to say to them:
and they turned their faces; that is
the Danites
turned and looked at them
and stopped to hear what they had to say to them;
these were they who were in the rear in marching:
and said unto Micah; who was at the head of
them:
what aileth thee that thou comest with such a company? as if he
intended to attack them in an hostile way
and therefore asks what should be
the occasion of it? what affront had been given him
what injury had been done
him
that had provoked him to come out and follow them in such a manner?
Judges 18:24 24 So he said
“You have
taken away my gods which I made
and the priest
and you have gone away. Now
what more do I have? How can you say to me
‘What ails you?’”
YLT
24And he saith
`My gods
which I made ye have taken
and the priest
and ye go; and what to me more? and
what [is] this ye say unto me
What -- to thee!'
And he said
ye have taken away my gods that I made
.... Meaning
his graven and molten images
which he had made
or caused to be made
out of
the silver his mother gave him
or however had paid for the making of; and
though this might be an argument proving his right unto them
it was a very
poor one in favour of their deity; and it is astonishing he should call them
gods he knew the making of
and who could not save themselves from being stolen
and carried off:
and the priest and ye are gone away; they had not only took
away his gods
but the priest that sacrificed for him unto them
and assisted
him in acts of devotion to them
or to God by them
and were gone off with
both:
and what have I more? signifying
that all he
had in the world
wife
children
and substance
were all nothing in comparison
of these; there was nothing he so much valued as he did these
nor could he
take any pleasure or comfort in anything
being deprived of them
so much was
his heart set on them:
and what is this that ye say unto me
what aileth thee? what a
question is this you ask
as if the injury done me was none at all
and that I
had no reason to complain; that it was a trifling insignificant thing
worthy
of no regard
when it was a matter of the greater moment and importance to him
in life.
Judges 18:25 25 And the children of Dan
said to him
“Do not let your voice be heard among us
lest angry men fall upon
you
and you lose your life
with the lives of your household!”
YLT
25And the sons of Dan say
unto him
`Let not thy voice be heard with us
lest men bitter in soul fall
upon you
and thou hast gathered thy life
and the life of thy household;'
And the children of Dan said unto him
let not thy voice be heard
among us
.... Complaining of us as having done an unjust thing
charging
and reproaching us with theft and sacrilege
insisting upon a restoration of
the things taken
and abusing with odious names and characters:
lest angry fellows run upon thee: lest men of bitter and
passionate spirits
provoked by ill language given them
should draw their
swords and fall upon thee:
and thou lose thy life
and the life of thy household; the life of
himself
his family
servants
tenants
and neighbours with him
which ought to
have been more precious and valuable than his gods; of which there was great
danger in demanding his gods
which by this they let him know they would not
part with.
Judges 18:26 26 Then the children of Dan
went their way. And when Micah saw that they were too strong for him
he
turned and went back to his house.
YLT
26and the sons of Dan go on
their way
and Micah seeth that they are stronger than he
and turneth
and
goeth back unto his house.
And the children of Dan went their way
.... Went on
their way
would not stay to have any further talk with him
as being an
impertinent man
and unworthy of their regard
bidding him defiance
and do his
worst
having nothing to fear from him:
and when Micah saw they were too strong for him; that he could
not prevail upon them by words and arguments; to take up arms
and use them
he
perceived it was to no purpose
since they were more numerous and more mighty
than he and his neighbours:
he turned and went unto his own house; and if he
returned from his idolatry to the true God
and the right worship of him
having lost his gods
it was well for him they were taken away.
Judges 18:27 27 So they took the things
Micah had made
and the priest who had belonged to him
and went to Laish
to a
people quiet and secure; and they struck them with the edge of the sword and
burned the city with fire.
YLT
27And they have taken that
which Micah had made
and the priest whom he had
and come in against Laish
against a people quiet and confident
and smite them by the mouth of the sword
and the city have burnt with fire
And they took the things which Micah had made
.... The
ephod
teraphim
and the two images
the Danites took them
or having taken
them kept them
and went on with them:
and the priest which he had; him also they took
and
who was willing enough to go with them:
and came unto Laish
unto a people that were quiet and secure; having no
sentinels placed at any distance to give them warning of an enemy
nor any
watchmen on their walls to discover one; and perhaps their gates not shut
nor
any guard at any of their passes and avenues
having no apprehension at all of
being visited by an enemy
especially from Israel
not being apprized that they
had any pretensions to their city
and the land about it:
and they smote them with the edge of the sword; entered their
city
and fell on them suddenly
and cut them to pieces:
and burnt the city with fire; to strike terror to all
about; or it may be only they set fire to some part of it
as they entered
only to frighten the inhabitants
and throw them into the greater confusion
that they might become a more easy prey to them; for their intention was to
inhabit it
and it seems to be the same city still
though they rebuilt it
and
called it by another name.
Judges 18:28 28 There was
no deliverer
because it was far from Sidon
and they had no ties with
anyone. It was in the valley that belongs to Beth Rehob. So they rebuilt the
city and dwelt there.
YLT
28and there is no deliverer
for it [is] far off from Zidon
and they have no word with [any] man
and it
[is] in the valley which [is] by Beth-Rehob; and they build the city
and dwell
in it
And there was no deliverer
because it was far from Zidon
.... Under
whose government and protection they seem to have been; and that city being at
a distance from them
and the Danites coming upon them suddenly
there was no
time to send to them for help
or any to come in to their assistance
and save
them from their enemies
see Judges 18:7.
and they had no business with any man; that could
have given them notice of the design of the children of Dan against them
nor
to the Zidonians to come soon enough for their protection and defence; none
there were in alliance with them except them:
and it was in the valley that lieth by Bethrehob; which lay in
the northern border of the land of Canaan
as you go to Hamath of Syria; see
Gill on Numbers 13:21.
and they built a city to dwell there; not a new one
altogether
but they rebuilt and enlarged Laish
and made it convenient for
them to dwell in.
Judges 18:29 29 And they called the name
of the city Dan
after the name of Dan their father
who was born to Israel.
However
the name of the city formerly was Laish.
YLT
29and call the name of the
city Dan
by the name of Dan their father
who was born to Israel; and yet
Laish [is] the name of the city at the first.
And they called the name of the city Dan
.... The name
of their tribe
and to show that though they were at the furthest part of the
land northward
and at such a distance from their tribe
which lay to the
southwest
yet they belonged to it:
after the name of Dan their father
who was born unto Israel; one of the
twelve sons of Jacob or Israel:
however
the name of the city was Laish at first; which
signifies a "lion"
and might be so called from its being infested
with lions
which might come from the mountain of Lebanon
near to which it
was
and whither Dan
as a lion's whelp
leaped
Deuteronomy 33:22
and now the prophecy had its accomplishment. This place was also called Leshem
Joshua 19:47 and it
is remarkable that Leshem is the name of the precious stone in the high priest's
breastplate
on which the name of Dan was engraved
which was done many years
before this city fell into the hands of the Danites
though that might portend
it.
Judges 18:30 30 Then the children of Dan
set up for themselves the carved image; and Jonathan the son of Gershom
the
son of Manasseh
[c] and his
sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the
land.
YLT
30And the sons of Dan raise
up for themselves the graven image
and Jonathan son of Gershom
son of
Manasseh
he and his sons have been priests to the tribe of the Danite
till
the day of the removal of [the people] of the land.
And the children of Dan set up the graven image
.... In their
new city Dan
and very probably had a house built for it
peculiar to it
in
the same place where Jeroboam
in later times
set up one of his golden calves.
The Danites having succeeded
according to the oracle in Micah's house
they
had a very great veneration for the images they brought away with them from
thence
and set them up for religious worship in a proper place; for though
only mention is made of the graven image
yet no doubt the molten image
and
the teraphim
with the ephod
were all placed together for devotion and
consultation:
and Jonathan the son of Gershom
the son of Manasseh
he and his
sons were priests to the tribe of Dan: not to the whole tribe
but to that part of it which resided in this city
called Dan; and this
Jonathan seems to be no other than the Levite Micah took into his house
and
made a priest of; and whom the Danites took with them to Laish
to be their
priest
who is said to be the son of Gershom
the son of Manasseh: now Gershom
was the son of Moses
and this man is thought by some to be a grandson of his;
and with this agrees the time in which he lived
for as Phinehas the grandson
of Aaron was now living
Judges 20:28 so
might a grandson of Moses; and though he is called a young man
he might be a
younger son of Gershom's; nor is his being a Levite any objection
since it is
a clear case that Moses made no provision for his family
so disinterested was
he
which may be observed against the deists: and it is remarkable that the
"nun"
or "N" in Manasseh
is suspended over the other
letters in our printed copies of the Hebrew Bible
and so without it may be
read
Moses; and the JewsF3T. Bab. Bava Bathra
fol. 109. 2. have a
notion
that this was done for the honour of Moses
and to observe that he was
more like a son of Manasseh than of Moses; though rather this being the first
letter of נשה
"to forget"
may suggest
as
AltingF4Shiloh
l. 4. c. 28. p. 334. observes
that he had forgot
the virtues of his grandfather; and the Vulgate Latin version reads
the son of
Moses; and someF5See Dr. Kennicott's Dissertation 2. p. 51
&c.
are of opinion that this is the true reading of the text; though it may be that
another Gershom than the son of Moses
and another Manasseh we know nothing of
are here intended
so Marcus MarinusF6Apud Glassium in Philolog.
Sacr. l. 1. tract. 1. sect. 2. : however
this man
and his sons in succession
after him
were priests in Dan:
until the day of the captivity of the land; not till the
captivity of Sennacherib or Salmaneser
when Dan
with the rest of the ten
tribes
were carried captives
as Jarchi; for this idolatry
and these
idolatrous priests
can hardly be thought to be continued here through the
times of Samuel
David
and Solomon: nor is it to be understood of the
captivity of Israel by Jabin king of Canaan
as Ben Gersom; for as the other is
too long a time
this is too short
since it is clear
by the next verse
that
this idolatry continued all the time the house of God was at Shiloh; and which
directs us to the captivity here spoken of
when the ark was carried captive by
the Philistines
and the house of Shiloh was forsaken; which is the sense of
Kimchi
R. Isaiah
and Abarbinel; and may be illustrated and confirmed by some
passages in Psalm 78:58.
Judges 18:31 31 So they set up for
themselves Micah’s carved image which he made
all the time that the house of
God was in Shiloh.
YLT
31And they appoint for them
the graven image of Micah
which he had made
all the days of the house of God
being in Shiloh.
And they set them up Micah's graven image
which he made
.... Which is
repeated for the sake of the time of its continuance next expressed:
all the time the house of God was in Shiloh; which
according to some Jewish writersF7Maimon. in Misn. Zebachim
c. 14.
sect. 6. & Bartenora in ib. sect. 7.
was three hundred and sixty years;
that is
so long as the tabernacle was there
which was afterwards removed to
Nob.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)